Florida Fish and Wildlife Officers Bust Divers Who Poached 30 Out of Season Lobsters

28 poached lobsters were undersized

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers busted two divers after discovering 30 out of season lobsters, 28 of which were undersized and 27 had been speared. (FWC mage)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers busted two divers after discovering 30 out of season lobsters, 28 of which were undersized and 27 had been speared.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that Officer Malachi Wilkins was on patrol when he saw two divers in the water. As he got closer, he saw one of the divers was holding a green bag and a spear.

The officer waited behind some mangroves hoping to see what the divers were catching. After watching a while, he went up to the men and asked to see their catch.

The diver with the green bag quickly dropped it into the water, trying to hide it – a ploy that didn’t work.

Officers Danielle Munkelt and Robert Dube arrived and helped retrieve the bag from the water and search the diver’s cooler.